How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and other small particles, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place the last time it was used which makes it easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app offers an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rug. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying, and it has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system that can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however, it still manages to pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. click to read are great for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one step. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to create an area where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
As the name implies that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to trace the space. Our best overall pick and runner-up models do this. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.